Private Members' Motions

Debates at General Synod can be triggered in a variety of ways.
One of these is for a member of the Synod to table a 'Private
Member's Motion' (PMM). In order to ascertain the degree of
interest in each motion, the Synod's Business Committee arranges
for the text of a motion to be available, during each group of
sessions, together with a list that is open for 'signature' by
other members of the Synod. It is also possible for members to sign
PMMs electronically between groups of sessions. (Details of how to
do this can be found in the resources section on the right-hand
side) By putting their name to particular motions, members are
signalling that they think they should be debated.

When putting together the agenda for the next meeting of the
Synod, the Business Committee has regard to the number of
signatures each motion has received in deciding which should be
debated (generally there is only space for one or two PMMs to be
debated in each group of sessions). While the motion with the most
signatures is often the one selected there can be reasons for
selecting another that has also attracted considerable support (it
might, for example, be more time-critical).

Once a motion has been open for signature for three groups of
session, it is removed from the Agenda if it has not attracted 100
signatures.

'That this Synod affirm the public doctrine of Christian
marriage, between a man and a woman, as set out in the Book of
Common Prayer as the only basis for engagement with public policy
on marriage and family life.'

That this Synod:
(a) give its general consent, pursuant to regulation 2D of the
Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations
2005, to any application made in respect of a church or chapel of
the Church of England for approval as a place at which two people
may register as civil partners of each other; and

(b) require the Clerk to the Synod forthwith to publish evidence of
this consent in writing.

'That this Synod request the Archbishops' Council to introduce
legislation to provide, on grounds of subsidiarity, for the level
of parochial fees to be determined by diocesan synods within a
range approved by the General Synod, reflecting the fact that
diocesan synods are responsible for both setting the level of
clergy stipends within their dioceses and paying those stipends
from fee income, parish share, glebe and investment income and
grants.'

'That this Synod call on all those in
the Church of England responsible for appointing lay and clerical
staff as office holders or employees to remunerate them at a level
equivalent to the clergy stipend and the value of a housing
allowance, etc. so that the total remuneration package for anyone
holding a Church office or employment does not exceed £45,000 after
pension contributions.'

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